Canada - Whiskey with a unique crafting style

Canada is often overlooked as a whiskey producer in the North American context, although the country has a long tradition in distilling and continues to produce high-quality whiskeys.

Canadian whiskey is made in pot stills and column stills and the mash is a combination of corn, wheat and rye. Rye is the most important ingredient as Canada's cold conditions are not ideal for growing other crops. The Canadian way of distilling is a complicated process and varies from place to place so there is no Canadian law on whiskey distilling. Canadian whiskeys are typically blends of whiskeys made from a single grain.

Interestingly, Canada was the first country in the world to establish a minimum age for whiskey aging: 3 years. This scheme predates a similar scheme in Scotland by 27 years.

Artisanal distillation is becoming popular in Canada, as well as in the US and Europe.

There are several distilleries in Alberta, including Alberta Distillers , which was founded in Calgary, Alberta in 1946. The distillery was acquired by Fortune Brands in 1987, which became Beam Suntory in 2011. The distillery exports much of its whiskey to other countries for bottling, but also produces the Alberta Premium, Alberta Springs, Windsor Canadian, Tangle Ridge and Canadian Club Chairman's Select brands.

Other popular Canadian whiskey distilleries include Ontario's Pike Creek , Victoria-based Macaloney's Caledonian and Vermont's WhistlePig .